"I’m a much better player than I was before" – Rilee Rossouw

After a tough initiation, South Africa has successfully set up a decider after winning the 2nd T20I against England. It was by no means an easy accomplishment, as the first two games were held on consecutive days.

However, resolute, rollicking innings from the experienced Rilee Rossouw set up a tall score that the Proteas would defend.

It was, in many ways, a fairytale comeback. Since he first left the international scene in late 2016, Rossouw has continued to add to his naturally aggressive approach throughout his stints in various T20 leagues.

Additionally, it was a well-deserved second chance, as he was fresh from a frenetic run for Somerset in the Vitality Blast. Understandably, the conditions were very familiar, especially given that he was an all-format feature in the county circuit for multiple seasons.

Rossouw’s early dismissal in the first match may have been an anticlimax, but a more measured modus operandi helped him pace his innings better in a more crucial contest. Initially, he found it tricky to rotate strike between himself and Reeza Hendricks, but after finding his groove, the fluency gradually increased.

“Yeah, unfortunately, things didn’t quite go my way in the first match,” said Rossouw.

“I was a bit overconfident given the number of runs I scored in England. But today, I took my time and played more sensibly and found the pace of the wicket. It got a lot easier to bat on, and I was trying to hit the boundaries to keep the side in good shape.”

The big-hitting left-hander would finish unbeaten on 96 at halftime. A century would’ve been the icing on the cake, as he superbly batted through the entire innings and punished the English bowlers just when they seemed to be creating some pressure.

But at the end of the day, it’s all about being a team player and contributing to the best of one’s ability. Rossouw was full of praise for Reeza Hendricks, who scored a 32-ball 53 and helped stitch together a 73-run stand that would put SA in the driver’s seat.

“I took my time early on, and Reeza played a great knock. He took down Mo in that over and that was a momentum shift. I didn’t reach three figures tonight. I wanted it badly, but Chris Jordan bowled an exceptional final over and credit goes to his yorkers.”

Considering the fact that there was no rest time between games, it may have been a bit overwhelming. Then again, Rossouw kept his thought process fairly simple, and his skill set would do the talking to devastating effect.

An attempted scoop off Richard Gleeson hit him under the helmet grill, but fortunately, Rossouw cleared any doubts over a major injury. In fact, he was able to finish off the remainder of the innings without much discomfort.

“If you don’t do well the first time, you’ll want to do better in the next 24 hours. My throat is okay. The doctor had a look – I’m not concussed but there’s a bit of stiffness. But we’ll see how things are.”

South Africa recovered from a largely forgettable day on the field, and bounced back with a more disciplined effort this time. It took a serious conversation to reinvigorate the side, and now the honours are even heading into the important showdown.

“We dropped four catches in the first game, and we spoke about it in the change room. And we had a good turnaround tonight. It’s all about putting our focus on each and every delivery, and we showed what we’re all about on the field.”

Above all else, Rossouw is very thankful to receive another opportunity to don the green and gold. It’s been a long road to re-earn another shot, and the confidence and motivation are stronger than ever.

“It’s special. I’m so grateful for where I am now, especially to put up a performance like this for my country is special. Yeah, it felt a bit more normal. I love playing in English conditions, and hopefully, I can score more runs on Sunday. You can’t take the experience for granted. Playing on good wickets at familiar places can be very helpful.”

“The management has backed me and selected me for this role, and representing your country is the proudest thing you can do. And for me today, it was a very emotional day. We all want to play to win a trophy, and the Proteas have had a nice last year and a half. But we’re putting together strong performances both as individuals and as a team, so the sky’s the limit.”

The 96* has come at a very critical phase. The Proteas are all but ready to close the shop as far as squad experimentation is concerned, and there’s a large pool of candidates that have raised their hands when given the game time to announce and express themselves. There’s an array of top-order options, and Rossouw has taken rapid strides to make himself a confirmed starter in the XI.

“I’d like to believe so. I’ve had six years of experience playing around the world. Obviously, international cricket is the ultimate goal, and I’m a much better player than I was before. You need to have self-belief before somebody else can see it. And I will back my ability to put in a performance to help my team.”

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